Today, the final tickets to the 2012 Final Four were punched, and perhaps, the Maryland Terrapins took the first step to getting back there.
Sam Cassel Jr, a slick combo guard with fabulous blood lines became a Terp today. Mark Turgeon now has six committed recruits for 2012. With Cassel, Maryland now has two guards (Allen and SCJ), three forwards (Mitchell, Dodd, Layman), and a center (Cleare).
With seven returning players, Maryland will have 13 able-bodied men to begin next season. They will be young, big and talented. And interesting.
With Cassel, the Terps get an athletic guard with a nice mid range game and some quickness. Think his father merged with Rip Hamilton. He's not classified as a Top 100 recruit but he's a high major D-I player. We got a good one.
This is easily one of the Terps best recruiting classes this century. Outside of 2003, no class will be higher rated. The Terps have three top 100 guys (Cleare, Layman, and Mitchell), an athletic combo guard on the rise, and two intriguing local players with great potential.
What remains to be seen is how will these six newcomers blend with the returning seven guys? Will Pankey and Padgett maintain their starting roles? Will they be discouraged and regress if Mitchell and Cleare supplant them? What about Len? Will he make The Leap with a clogged front court of six big men?
It all remains to be seen. One thing is for sure, Turgeon and staff are surely done with 2012. As we look to 2013, a top flight point guard is the number one priority. Whether it comes in the form of one of the Harrison's or someone else, it should be the main focus of the summer.
